I-49 coalition plans meeting in Houma

Published: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 11:51 p.m.

South Louisiana business owners, activists and elected officials will meet in Houma on March 12 to recruit members to the newly formed I-49 South Coalition.

The meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Fletcher Technical Community College, 310 St. Charles St. It is open to all South Central Industrial Association members.

The coalition was created to advocate for upgrades to U.S. 90 between Lafayette and New Orleans, a stretch of highway that would become Interstate 49.

Efforts to link New Orleans to Lafayette via I-49 have been stop-and-go for years. Though several projects have improved the existing roads, the toughest work — stretching the road north into Lafayette and growing the southern part of road through Raceland and into New Orleans — remains undone.

The idea of a coalition came from state Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, who said upgrade efforts have faltered because there's no single manager.

The coalition would be modeled after Lafourche Parish's LA 1 Coalition, which helped find money to elevate La. 1 from Leeville to Port Fourchon and build a new bridge in Leeville.

Participants at the March 12 meeting will learn about the leadership make-up of the I-49 South Coalition and how they can help support the organization.

The upgrade would include 120 miles of construction, which could top $5 billion. Federal money could help pay for the work, according to supporters.

The Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission had considered charging tolls that would repay a construction loan, but that proposal is delayed pending a state evaluation of the issue.

Coalition organizers say an upgraded highway is important to business and industry.

Allain said the coalition would be a nonprofit organization that would lobby for the upgrade.

Now is a good time to push for an upgraded road, Allain said, considering the segment that connects Lafayette to north Louisiana is already complete.

“The last (U.S.) Census showed that the amount of growth along the corridor is up about 30 percent,” he said. Some of that traffic would have made it into Terrebonne, Lafourche and other coastal parishes had the southern portion been complete, Allain said.

An upgraded U.S. 90 would also serve as an improved evacuation route, he said.

“You need a super highway for industry, said Jane Arnette, executive director of the Houma-based South Central Industrial Association. Many businesses “have offices in Houston and Lafayette, but none in Houma or Lafourche. They need a super highway to do business efficiently.”

<p>South Louisiana business owners, activists and elected officials will meet in Houma on March 12 to recruit members to the newly formed I-49 South Coalition.</p><p>The meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Fletcher Technical Community College, 310 St. Charles St. It is open to all South Central Industrial Association members. </p><p>The coalition was created to advocate for upgrades to U.S. 90 between Lafayette and New Orleans, a stretch of highway that would become Interstate 49. </p><p>Efforts to link New Orleans to Lafayette via I-49 have been stop-and-go for years. Though several projects have improved the existing roads, the toughest work — stretching the road north into Lafayette and growing the southern part of road through Raceland and into New Orleans — remains undone. </p><p>The idea of a coalition came from state Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, who said upgrade efforts have faltered because there's no single manager.</p><p>The coalition would be modeled after Lafourche Parish's LA 1 Coalition, which helped find money to elevate La. 1 from Leeville to Port Fourchon and build a new bridge in Leeville.</p><p>Participants at the March 12 meeting will learn about the leadership make-up of the I-49 South Coalition and how they can help support the organization.</p><p>The upgrade would include 120 miles of construction, which could top $5 billion. Federal money could help pay for the work, according to supporters.</p><p>The Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission had considered charging tolls that would repay a construction loan, but that proposal is delayed pending a state evaluation of the issue.</p><p>Coalition organizers say an upgraded highway is important to business and industry. </p><p>Allain said the coalition would be a nonprofit organization that would lobby for the upgrade.</p><p>“State, federal, local, we are discussing all possible ways of doing it,” Allain said, adding the idea of charging tolls hasn't been ruled out. </p><p>Now is a good time to push for an upgraded road, Allain said, considering the segment that connects Lafayette to north Louisiana is already complete.</p><p>“The last (U.S.) Census showed that the amount of growth along the corridor is up about 30 percent,” he said. Some of that traffic would have made it into Terrebonne, Lafourche and other coastal parishes had the southern portion been complete, Allain said.</p><p>An upgraded U.S. 90 would also serve as an improved evacuation route, he said.</p><p>“You need a super highway for industry, said Jane Arnette, executive director of the Houma-based South Central Industrial Association. Many businesses “have offices in Houston and Lafayette, but none in Houma or Lafourche. They need a super highway to do business efficiently.”</p>